ÌÇÐÄTV¹ÙÍø

When one thinks of Ireland, an instant picture of lush green fields dotted with beautiful ancient castles springs to mind. But did you know that this wee island, steeped in centuries-old tradition and history, is today one of the richest nations in Europe? Thanks to a large young population, Ireland’s economy has been growing rapidly over the past many years. The country’s quality education system and lucrative employment opportunities have made it the number-one preferred destination for Indian students who study in Ireland not just for a good job but to build themselves a career.

According to research by European think tank ESRI, the number of international students in Ireland increased by 45% between 2013 and 2017, with majority of them from China, India, Malaysia and Canada. The Government of Ireland has also been taking pro-active measures to encourage more students from India to benefit from the significant career opportunities offered by its top universities.

So what makes Ireland such a favourite destination for Indian students?

Academic excellence and global recognition

One of the prominent benefits of studying in Ireland is that all its universities are ranked among the top 5% globally, with many of them featuring in the top 1%. These world-famous universities offer a myriad of courses across technology, engineering, sciences, medicine as well as literature, psychology, history, languages etc. Some of the top universities in Ireland include – Trinity College, Dublin; University College of Dublin; National University of Ireland, Galway; University of Limerick; University College Cork among others.

Post-Brexit benefits and employment opportunities

After Brexit, Ireland is now the only English-speaking country in the European Union. Also, at a time when other countries are tightening immigrant visa rules, Ireland is welcoming international students with its two-year ‘stay-back’ option after graduation where you can look for job opportunities from among over 1000 MNCs having headquarters there. Companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, Intel, etc. have opened up shop in the country and Ireland’s well-known indigenous corporations like DCC and Kerry group also offer ample career opportunities. Universities themselves have very good industry contacts to help with placements and internships.

Study costs are lower in Ireland

Compared with US, UK and Australia, average tuition fees in Ireland in general is between €10,000 and €20,000
per year. Most graduate courses are of one-year duration, with arts, education and languages courses cheaper than engineering, science, business and finance subjects. Tuition fees is the largest cost component, while other expenses like student visa, medical insurance and personal living & travelling expenses typically cost between €7,000 to €12,000 per year.